wolpherine2000

February 2nd, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^

It takes humility to realize you have a problem, and humility is something we haven't seen much from him in the past.  I hope the kid get his life in order and we will all find that personality traits that we have all found so repugnant were symptoms of his illness.

mGrowOld

February 2nd, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^

He DEFINITELY was issued an ulitimatum by the Browns.  Last week the entire coaching staff & management went off-site to discuss the team and it's direction.  There is 0% chance that his behavior wasnt discussed thoroughly and his "decision" to seek help was a direct result of that.

Reader71

February 2nd, 2015 at 12:01 PM ^

I feel sorry for you. Only the Browns would draft an alcoholic QB in the first round. Whoever had anything to do with this pick should be run out of the NFL.

And for what its worth, I'm a Jets fan. We haven't drafted a good QB since Joe Namath. The best QB I've ever seen them draft is Chad Pennington. They are horrible. But at least they never drafted a drunk.

ghostofhoke

February 2nd, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^

That's true and its bullshit if people don't think that they know absolutely everything about you before they draft you. I sat next to an NBA insider on a plane ride a couple of years ago (former coach, former player, announcer and HOF'er). He said teams invest tons of money and do full background checks, interviews with associates, etc. complete work ups. Hey know what drugs you like, where you get them, who you're sleeping with, what drugs your wife and girlfriends like, the whole deal. They knew what was going on here and figured they could either overcome it or sell enough tix that it wouldn't matter. Suckers.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

mgoblue0970

February 2nd, 2015 at 12:39 PM ^

Not directed specifically at you @ghost but has everyone here forgot this guy is still a person?  Let's see if rehab helps him out before we crucify him.  Just sayin'.

If goes all Lohan on us, then sure, fire away.  I'm willing to give the guy a chance to get his life in order.

Bando Calrissian

February 2nd, 2015 at 12:38 PM ^

You know what? Instead of being judgmental about Manziel as a "drunk," maybe you should be giving him at least a little credit (ultimatum or not) for having the strength to go into treatment. Alcoholism is a disease. If he comes out of this with the strength to confront his demons, and can translate that into success on the football field, isn't that a positive thing?

mGrowOld

February 2nd, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^

The problem we have is that the owner made the call to draft him.   If you remember, the Browns commissioned a 250k study to tell them which QB was the best in the draft and it came back Bridgewater.  But instead of listening and following the report they paid for they listened to a homeless man who told Haslam to take Manzeil.

Miami Maize

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^

I have no horse in the race for or against the Browns.  But if what GrowOld said is true and they deliberately ignored a Bridgewater choice (and I believe he was still available before Manziel was picked), then the entire organization needs an enema and cleaned out.  

QB as has been shown over and over again is by far a team's most critical position, both at pro and college levels.  To take a flier on a known attention whore (even if caused by alcoholism, which is a very sad disease) caused all 31 other teams to stop and think.  But not the Browns.  Losing is in this team's DNA, and this is another manifestation of it.  

mGrowOld

February 2nd, 2015 at 3:01 PM ^

It's true.

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201405/browns-100000-study-finds-t…

I just had the amount wrong.  But here's our problem.  It was the fucking owner, a poor man's Daniel Snyder, who made the call.  HE wanted Manzeil and he got him.  There is no way that Farmer, who'd been a GM for less than 30 days when that pick was made, overruled the report and went for Johnny Football.  He was told to or at the very least was let known that his boss would be extremely happy if we picked Manzeil.

You cant fire your owner.  Unfortunately.

 

Reader71

February 2nd, 2015 at 4:30 PM ^

It is a positive thing for Manziel. I hope he recovers and goes to the Hall of Fame, becoming a poster boy for recovering addicts the world over. My comment was certainly judgmental of Manziel, but much more judgmental of the Browns.

The Browns should be ashamed of themselves for making the decision to draft him. Substance addiction IS a disease, and it should have prevented them from using a high pick on him and paying him a lot of money. Its a really hard hurdle to clear for the addict and suggests a high probability of failure as a pro QB. If a great QB had cancer, I would wish for him to overcome just like I hope Manziel overcomes, but I wouldn't draft him in the first round. Too much risk. Too prohibitive of odds.

And the part that makes me think the Browns brass should be run out of the NFL is that the situation wasn't a surprise. It wasn't hidden. A lot of people knew about it.

PM

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:30 PM ^

than go on to say the Jets never drafted a drunk (unless he was acquired via a trade.)  He may have been a highly functioning drunk, but a drunk nonetheless. I'm sure meds for the painful knees didn't help along the way, but...

Regardless, your point about the idiocy of the Browns drafting Manziel remains spot on. Who knows, maybe this will turn him around, and I hope it does, but I would also be surprised.

Don

February 2nd, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^

On draft day, 21 teams, including the Cleveland Browns, passed over Manziel. While Manziel was waiting to be drafted, he sent a text message to Cleveland quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains asking for the team to trade up and select him:



Loggains: "We're sitting there and they keep showing Johnny on TV and Johnny and I are texting and he shoots me a text and he says, 'I wish you guys would come get me. Hurry up and draft me because I want to be there. I want to wreck this league together.'



"When I got that text, I forwarded it to the owner and to the head coach (Mike Pettine),'' Loggains said on Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly on Arkansas ESPN. "I'm like, 'This guy wants to be here. He wants to be part of it.' As soon as that happened, Mr. Haslam said, 'Pull the trigger. We're trading up to go get this guy.'"

So the Browns—who had already passed on Manziel with the 8th pick—decided to draft Manziel because he sent a text to a QB coach, and that was enough to change their minds? No wonder the Browns stink, with draft strategy like that.

Mr. Yost

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^

It's some dumb move he and his friends (Drake and co.) do...

It's called Top Season.

There is literally no difference between it and this...

...other than Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff are WAAAY cooler.

Your ignorance doesn't make you right.

Note that THIS is NOT Johnny Manziel...it's his friend (also Drake's friend) --- as this is Drake's "Started From The Bottom" video.

Notice Drake putting the "top seasoning" on in this picture...also notice the hat of OB O'Brien in the picture...TOPSZN

 

...so I can post a bunch of pictures too. However, at least I know what I'm talking about (nothing to brag about on this stupid subject). 

People need to STFU about a silly hand gesture. LeBron and Jay-Z or LeBron and Dwayne Wade have like a 22 slap handshake. The shit takes 10 minutes and looks exhausting. Manziel and his rapper friends do this sily top season motion. It's really not that big of a deal that friends of a small circle greet each other with hand gestures.

Maybe MGoBlog should have a cool handshake?!

mgoblue0970

February 2nd, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^

Complete dick comment.  Whether or not he's going of his own will or someone else's... HE'S ACTUALLY GOING -- and it's getting played out on a national stage. 

I bet if roles were reversed, you'd want people to give you the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming shit.

Yeah, Johnny football is reaping what he's sowing.  But, Nancy Grace, is this a no mistake country or does one get a chance to change, put stuff behind them, and move on?!

Smilin Joe Fission

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:14 PM ^

He got the benefit of the doubt for 16 weeks during the regular season. Even when he got in trouble week after week during the season, he never showed any remorse or willingness to change, in fact he defended his actions. The last thing he needs is the benefit of the doubt.

And he gets a chance to change, by actually changing. Until he does that it doesn't mean anything.

 

mgoblue0970

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:51 PM ^

If you knew anything about rehab, actually going is the first step and indeed demonstrates change... people like that have to live their life one day at a time.

The last thing he needs is the benefit of the doubt.

I hope you don't vote, you're never on a jury, and nothing unfortunate ever happens to you -- especially if it's played out publicly.

Smilin Joe Fission

February 2nd, 2015 at 2:09 PM ^

"If I knew anything about rehab"

I have immediate family members who have been in and out of rehab for years and years. Dozens of times. Going doesn't mean anything.

Drug addiction feeds on second chances. Enabling someone by giving them the benefit of the doubt only hurts them and the people around them.

mgoblue0970

February 2nd, 2015 at 2:11 PM ^

You're delusional.

Rehab isn't 100%.  Sounds like in your family situation, it wasn't. 

Don't paint with such a broad brush though.  Giving the benefit of the doubt does not equal enabling.  You have a lot to learn yet.

Mr. Yost

February 2nd, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^

Do you know how many teams in pro sports try to get players to go to rehab?

LOTS.

Humility or not, at least he's going...because he doesn't have to. And there are plenty of clubs who try to put players on their teams in rehab and those guy show the finger, say they don't have a problem and keep doing what they're doing.

I know 2 personally. Each has had his team beg, plead, call family, give paid leave, etc. in order to get the player into rehab. Multiple occasions, but if the person doesn't want to go, he's not going to go. Or not going to stay.

Humble or not, I'll support anyone trying to get his/her life together...it doesn't excuse your past or wipe away any mistakes you've made. But I'm all for people trying to be better.

Yeoman

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^

I'm curious about the two players you know personally--do their on-field (court, whatever) contributions give them leverage?

The Browns could give Manziel his release tomorrow and it wouldn't hurt the team one iota. It's a different ultimatum when you're ready and willing to pull the trigger if you get the finger in response.

Mr. Yost

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^

1 yes - big contract

1 no - was cut at the beginning of this season and is out of the league

My point was only that neither HAD to go and neither did. Well one did, but left after 1 day.

Manziel doesn't have to go, even if the Browns wanted him to. And unlike my example who was cut...Manziel could still make a decent living because he comes from a rich family and America loves a trainwreck. So he doesn't even have as much to lose. He could have his own reality show tomorrow if he wanted and could keep doing whatever it is he's doing.

So it was still his choice to go...and I support that. 

I don't even like the kid, for many of the same reasons a lot of people don't care for him...but I know that no one is making him do anything. It may be highly recommended, but it's ultimately still his decision.

Mr. Yost

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:30 PM ^

#1 - I HIGHLY doubt he'd lose his NFL career...

#2 - All I said was the Browns can't make him go...how do I know? Because I've seen this happen firsthand in the NBA and in the NFL.

...so no I didn't say that at all and I don't agree with that statement at all. I think if the news today was Browns Cut Manziel instead of him checking into rehab, he would be signed on with another team next year.

Sidenote, you'd also be surprised at how many guys go to rehab in the NFL/NBA without anyone ever knowing. By the time the public finds out about drug issues and failed tests and all that...usually that player is on his 4th or 5th chance. It's not anything new to the organization.

 

Yeoman

February 2nd, 2015 at 2:06 PM ^

I think his career is already over. The upside is limited--he was completely outmatched on an NFL field, not in the usual game-is-too-fast way a rookie is outmatched but physically outmatched. (As an aside, I suspect the reason he arranged to have his own day instead of appearing at the combine was to avoid any side-by-side comparisons that would make this obvious.) And a team that's looking for a replacement-level QB would probably prefer someone with less baggage.

Mr. Yost

February 2nd, 2015 at 3:10 PM ^

I personally think someone would've signed him up at least 1 more time to see if they could get something out of him.

I believe, before Mariota committed, he was signed to Chip Kelly and Oregon. Maybe the Eagles take a shot at him? Maybe the Patriots, who've taken flyers on guys. Maybe the Raiders who love to take chances. Maybe Jerry's World and the Cowboys. Maybe no one at all.

I was just saying I think if today he was cut versus entering rehab...he'd find another team. But I certainly can see why someone would disagree and think he'd be done for life. It's not like he's been good (unlike Tebow who wasn't great, but led his team to an AFC Championship Game).

BlueRy

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^

Agreed.  Johnny represents how 90% of us would handle being thrust into fame at the age of 18.  It gives me that much more respect for the way guys like Lebron and other well adjusted teenage phenoms have handled themselves.

I hope that Johnny gets the help that he needs.

Mr. Yost

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^

But Johnny was widely considered a spoiled brat even before the fame. He was your stereotypical rich kid with athletic ability.

He was the stereotypical rich lacrosse kid that gives most lacrosse players a bad name.

Then he got the fame as a RS freshman and a Heisman and it just snowballed, IMO.

Women have "Real Housewives"...he's like "Real Entourage" only he didn't come up in a rough part of Queens, NY.

I disagree with the 90% because many of us didn't have what Johnny had even to start with. I know I didn't have a BMW a 16, a golf membership, every material thing I could ever want or need.

So right there is what seperates him from many of us.

No one hired my best friend to go around with me to keep me out of trouble. I just got my ass whooped and that was enough. My life and Johnny's life have ALWAYS been different. But had I got fame and money and attention at an earlier age, I don't think I would've handled it like Johnny because I was raised completely different. Not saying it's better or worse, I'm just saying it was different...so I don't think the outcome would be the same.

ottomatic

February 2nd, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^

I feel bad for the counselors.



Let me explain; in 1987 working on the staff of Care Unit of Coral Springs, FL. A number of MLB teams held Spring Training on FL's Gold Coast. A teams GM made arrangements for a hot young rookie to be evaluated for substance abuse treatment. In-patient treatment was recommended. The player flat-out refused. A conference call was established with player, agent, GM, and others from the team.



The GM talked to that rookie like he was a dog. He harped about the signing bonus and how the team 'owned his ass'. Explicitly threatened him that he'd never play in MLB if he refused treatment.



He entered treatment, went on to be a perienail all-star. I never heard or read any suggestion about further substance abuse issues.



I've dealt with many pro athletes seeking treatment, either on their own or through coercion. I know less about J. Paycheck than most because I tend to tune out news about him. But my gut says, The Brown's forced him into to treatment and he's the type of personality that can turn a substance abuse treatment unit upside down. I hope I'm wrong - but gut...